Input power connector for distribution panel

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to power input housings and assemblies for power distribution panels. The power input assemblies provide separate cavities with a centerwall for the power input cables to be led into and a cover closing the cavities. The cavities allow power cables to enter through either a top open end or a bottom open end and the cover is adapted to close the other open end when installed. Alternatively, the housing can be oriented with the open ends of the cavities to the sides, permitting cables to enter through either side and the cover closing the other side.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to power input structures forpower distribution panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Power distribution panels are generally mounted in an electronicequipment rack with other devices requiring a source of electric power.The basic function of such a distribution panel is to receive electricpower, typically DC power, from an external power source and distributethis power through a bus bar to a series of individual circuits fordelivery to the equipment mounted in the rack or in nearby equipmentracks. Typically, these individual circuits are protected by fuses orcircuit breakers. Common voltages for these panels are 24 and 48 VoltsDC. The bus bars commonly handle up to 300 amps or more and theindividual circuits are protected by circuit breakers capable ofhandling of up to 100 amps or more or by fuses capable of handling up to125 amps or more. In addition, a power distribution panel may have twoseparate bus bars, meaning the total current being supplied to a panelcould be up to 600 Amps.

The amount of electrical current being supplied to a power distributionpanel is sufficient to cause injury to persons working around thesepanels or to adjacent devices. Protective devices or shields aredesirable to guard against accidental contact with the exposed power andreturn current feeds linking the external power sources to the bus barswithin the distribution panels. However, depending on the environmentwhere a particular rack might be installed, these external power feedsmay come from above, below or the side of the distribution panel. Adistribution panel having a power input structure capable of beingeasily adapted for receiving and protecting power feeds from multipledirections is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a power input housing with an openended cavity divided by a centerwall, and a cover for the housing havingan extension to close one of the open ends of the cavity when the coveris mounted to the housing. Another aspect of the present inventionrelates to a power input assembly including a housing with an open endedcavity divided by a centerwall into return and power chambers withconductors mounted within each chamber. A cover for the assembly isprovided having an extension to close one of the open ends of the cavitywhen the cover is mounted to the housing. A further aspect of thepresent invention relates to a method of attaching power input cables toa power distribution panel using a power input assembly including ahousing with an open ended cavity divided by a centerwall into power andreturn chambers with conductors mounted within each chamber and a coverfor the housing having an extension to close one of the open ends of thecavity when the cover is mounted to the housing. The cables are led intoeither one of the open ends and the cover is used to close off the otheropen end.

A variety of advantages of the invention will be set forth in part inthe description that follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practicing the invention. It is to beunderstood that both the foregoing general description and the followingdetailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are notrestrictive of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the description, illustrate several aspects of the invention andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a powerdistribution panel in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the power distribution of FIG. 1, with themounting flanges removed.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the power distribution panel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the power distribution panel of FIG. 1 with thetop cover removed.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of a power input housing in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the power input housing of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the power input housing of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the power input housing of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the power input housing of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the power input housing of FIG. 8taken along line A—A.

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of an alternative power input housingin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the power input housing of FIG.11.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the power input housing of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a rear view of the power input housing of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the power input housing of FIG. 11.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the power input housing of FIG. 14taken along line A—A.

FIG. 17 is an exploded rear view of a power input assembly in accordancewith the present invention with the cover positioned for entry of powercables from above the assembly.

FIG. 18 is a rear view of the power input assembly of FIG. 17 with thecover removed.

FIG. 19 is a side view of the power input assembly of FIG. 18.

FIG. 19A is a side view of the power input assembly of FIG. 19 with thecover in a first position.

FIG. 19B is a side view of the power input assembly of FIG. 19A with thecover in a second position.

FIG. 20 is a top view of the power input assembly of FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is a front perspective view of a cover for a power inputassembly in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a rear view of the cover of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the cover of FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a rear perspective view of an alternative power distributionbus in accordance to the present invention for use with the powerdistribution panel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 25 is a top view of the power distribution bus of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a front perspective view of the power distribution bus ofFIG. 24.

FIG. 27 is a front perspective view of a portion of the powerdistribution bus of FIG. 24.

FIG. 28 is a rear perspective view of the portion of the powerdistribution bus of FIG. 26.

FIG. 29 is a front view of the portion of the power distribution bus ofFIG. 26.

FIG. 30 is a rear view of the portion of the power distribution bus ofFIG. 26.

FIG. 31 is a top view of the portion of the power distribution bus ofFIG. 26.

FIG. 32 is a bottom view of the portion of the power distribution bus ofFIG. 26.

FIG. 33 is a rear perspective view of the power output assembly of FIG.1.

FIG. 34 is a top view of the power output assembly of FIG. 33.

FIG. 35 is a front perspective view of the power output assembly of FIG.33.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be ma de in detail to exemplary aspects of thepresent invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughoutthe drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

To prevent accidental contact with the power and return power leadssupplying electrical power to a power distribution panel 1, a powerinput assembly 10 is provided about each power input location. Assembly10 is designed to provide separation and isolation of the power orbattery and return leads from each other and prevent people and/or otherdevices from contacting the leads and receiving an electrical shock,causing harm to personnel or property.

Internally, due to the amount of current in the power distribution buses60 and 160, some shielding of the individual power leads 166 preventsunwanted arcing or current induction between adjacent leads. Thisshielding can be accomplished by coating the leads with an electricallyinsulative material or by providing sufficient separation of the leads.Providing separation of leads 166 also provides improved access tocomponents within panel 1 for users.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, a power distribution panel 1 withtwo power busses and two power input assemblies 10 installed is shown. Afirst power input assembly 10 is shown with cover 14 in place and asecond assembly 10 is shown with cover 14 removed. Panel 1 includes ahousing with a rear face 28, a front face 34, a top 26, a bottom 44 andtwo opposing sides 20. Mounted to each side 20 proximate front face 34are mounting flanges 18 for mounting panel 1 to a telecommunicationsequipment rack. Because telecommunications equipment racks vary inwidth, flanges 18 include several columns of mounting holes and may bemounted in different orientations. Flange 18 includes long side 21 andshort side 19. Long side 21 includes two columns of mounting holes 23and 24. Short side 19 includes a single column of mounting holes 22.Panel 1 can be mounted to a variety of different width mounting racks byaltering the orientation of flanges 18 mounted on either side 20 ofpanel 1. For example, mounting flanges 18 with short flange 19 adjacentboth sides 20 would allow panel 1 to mounted to a relatively wider rack,while mounting flanges 18 with long side 21 adjacent sides 20 wouldpermit panel 1 to be mounted to a relatively narrower rack. Additionalsizes and configurations of flanges 18 are anticipated which wouldpermit panel 1 to be mounted to telecommunications racks of differentwidths.

Mounted to rear face 28 are two sets of power output terminals 12.Output terminals 12 are then connected to the power input terminals oftelecommunications devices to supply power to those devices. In FIGS. 2and 4, one of the sets of output terminals 12 is covered by a protectivehousing 16 to prevent accidental contact with the terminals. Chassisgrounds 30 are provided on rear face 28 and allow panel 1 to beelectrically connected to a ground. Panel 1 includes an internalcircuitry which senses interruptions or other problems with the powerflowing through the panel. This circuitry is tied to an alarm which canprovide a visible, audible or electronic signal when a power flowproblem is detected. The electronic alarm signals allow the alarm statusof a power panel to be remotely or centrally monitored. Power alarmconnector 32 is provided on rear face 28 for the transmission of theelectronic signals for remote or central monitoring.

On the front face of panel 1 are circuit breakers 38 and fuses 42 toprovide protection for the equipment to which panel 1 is supplyingpower. Additional breaker locations 36 are available to allow morebreakers to be mounted to panel 1. Circuit breakers 38 couldalternatively replaced by fuses. Signal lamps 40 are connected with thealarm in panel 1 to provide the visible signal if a power flow problemis detected. Holder 46 is provided on front face 34 to maintain indiciaregarding the devices which are being supplied power by panel 1.

Power input assembly 10 includes a power conductor 52 with posts 48 anda return conductor 54 with posts 50. Conductors 52 and 54 are attachedto buses 60 inside panel 1. Posts 48 are connected with the powerterminal of the power source supplying panel 1 and posts 50 areconnected with the return terminal of the power source supplying thepanel. Posts 48 are electrically connected to conductor 52, which are inturn electrically connected with a power bus end 56 of bus 60. Posts 50are electrically connected to conductor 54, which are in turnelectrically connected with a return bus end 58 of bus 60.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 10, assembly 10 includes a housing 70with defining a cavity (the housing cavity defined by cavities 71 and 77). The housing 70 includes opposing sidewalls 72, a base 76 extendingbetween the sidewalls and a centerwall 74 parallel to the sidewalls andgenerally bisecting the base into two halves. In centerwall 74 is anopening 94 for receiving a fastener holding cover 14 in place on housing70. Between sidewalls 72 on either side of centerwall 74 are defined thecavities 71 and 77 for receiving power cables from an external powersupply. Each sidewall 72 has a first end 73 and a second end 75. Betweenfirst ends 72 is endwall 88 which cooperates with base 76 to formconductor openings 78 proximate first ends 73. Likewise, between secondends 75 is endwall 88 which cooperates with base 76 to form conductoropenings 78 proximate second ends 75. Extending from each endwall 88 ismounting tab 80, which include openings 82 to receive fasteners such asscrews to mount housing 70 to rear face 28. Along endwalls 88 oppositebase 76 are openings 92, which receive fasteners such as screws forholding conductors 52 and 54 to housing 70, as is discussed below. Alongthe bottom of base 76 and extending between the opposing sidewalls 72and opposing endwalls 88 are reinforcing ribs 84. Ribs 84 provide addedstrength and stiffness to housing 70. Likewise, along the bottom ofmounting tabs 80 are reinforcing ribs 86, and extending from the top ofbase 76 along centerwall 74 are reinforcing ribs 96. Proximate thejunctions of endwalls 88 and reinforcing rib 84 are opening 90 forreceiving fasteners such as screws.

As shown in FIGS. 5 though 10, mounting tabs 80 are located proximateconductor openings 78, and cavities 71 and 77 are oriented to receivepower cables from above or below panel 1. As shown in FIG. 1, housing 70is mounted to rear face 28 so that mounting tabs 80 are on the inside ofpanel 1 and sidewalls 72 and centerwall 74 extend through rear face 28outside of panel 1. Mounting openings 15 in rear face 28 are locatedabove and below housing 70 and are located so that a fastener such as ascrew can be inserted through an opening 15 and engage opening 82 tohold housing 70 to rear face 28.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 through 16, housing 170 is shown. Housing 170is similarly constructed to housing 70, with mounting tabs 80 located ondifferent opposing walls. If housing 170 were mounted to rear face 28 ofpanel 1, cavities 71 and 77 would be oriented to receive power cablesfrom either the left side or right side of panel 1. Both housing 70 andhousing 170 are made of electrically insulative material.

Referring now to FIGS. 17 through 20, a power input assembly is shown.In FIG. 17, conductors 52 and 54 include of a first leg 106, a cross leg108 and a second leg 110. First and second legs 106 and 110 extendthrough openings 78 of housing 70 and cross leg 108 lies along the topof base 76. Conductor 52 is placed within cavity 71 and conductor 54 isplaced within cavity 77. Posts 48 extend from cross leg 108 of conductor52 opposite base 76 and posts 50 extend from cross leg 108 of conductor54 opposite base 76. Second leg 110 and first leg 106 include openings102. Fasteners such as screws 100 are inserted through openings 92 inendwalls 88 and engage openings 102, holdings the straps to housing 70.Proximate an end of second leg 110 opposite cross leg 108 are openings104 for attaching and electrically connecting conductor 52 to power busend 56 of bus 60, and for attaching and electrically connectingconductor 54 to return bus end 58 of bus 60. Conductors 52 and 54 areheld by housing 70 and are separated from potential contact bycenterwall 74.

FIGS. 21 through 23 show cover 14. References to housing 70 are intendedto apply also for housing 170. Cover 14 includes a top 120 and a lowerextension 122. Top 120 is sized to fit on housing 70 covering cavities71 and 77, so that ledges 126 rest just outside of the top of sidewalls72, extension 122 is proximate one of first end 73 or second end 75 ofsidewalls 72 and ledge 134 is at the other of first end 73 or second end75. When mounted to housing 70, extension 122 extends between sidewalls72 across both cavities 71 and 77 and between top 120 and endwall 88.Ledges 124 rest just outside of first or second ends 73 or 75 ofsidewalls 72 when cover 14 is mounted to housing 70. Ledge 134 extendsbetween parallel to extension 122 on the opposite open end of housing 70but does not extend far enough to close the open end. In this position,cover 14 closes off access to cavities 71 and 77 from the rear and fromone of the two ends. Ledges 126 and 134 are shown as the same size butmay be of different sizes. Ledges 126 may extend up to the same extentas extension 122 while ledge 134 may not be made so large as to blockthe open end opposite extension 122.

Mounting opening 128 in top 120 includes a narrow end 130 and a wide end132. Opening 128 is sized and located to receive a fastener extendingfrom opening 94 in housing 70 to hold cover 14 to housing 70. The shapeof opening 128 is sized to allow cover 14 to be removed from housing 70without completely removing the screw from opening 94. Narrow end 130and wide end 132 are oriented to be generally parallel to ledges 126.

Cover 14 and housing 70 are designed so that cover 14 may be mounted tohousing 70 with extension 122 at either first end 73 (as shown in FIG.19A) or second end 75 (as shown in FIG. 19B) of sidewalls 72. This willpermit power supply cables from an external power source to enter fromabove or below as the installation environment dictates withoutrequiring a different version of cover 14 for each direction of entry.With regard to housing 170, power cables can enter the housing fromeither end and cover 14 will be installed with extension 122 coveringthe opposite end. Cover 14 is made of an electrically insulativematerial.

Referring now to FIGS. 24 through 26, an alternative power distributionbus 160 is shown. Bus 160 shown would be used in place of the right-sidebus 60 in FIG. 4, above, and includes the same rear power input assembly10 and rear power output assembly 12. Power conductor 42 is electricallyconnected with power bus end 56, which in turn feeds the power into aprotective device mount 162. Protective device mount 162 permitsprotective devices such as circuit breakers 38 to be mounted in theelectrical path. Leads 166 carry the power from protective device mount162 to offset connectors 168 and 170 169 of power output assembly 12.Offset connectors 168 and 170 169 are configured to allow adjacent leads166 to connect with rear output assembly 12 in staggered columns. Threeoffset connectors 168 are located in a first column and three offsetconnectors 170 169 are located in a second column. This offsetting ofadjacent leads and power output connectors provides added space betweenthe connections. This added space reduces the possibility of current inone lead inducing current in an adjacent lead in the area of theconnection with power output assembly 12. Leads 166 as shown are craftedfrom bar stock. To reduce corrosion and other related occurrences, thisbar stock may be plated with tin, lead or another suitable material.

Referring now to FIGS. 27 through 32, protective device mount 162 andleads 166 are shown with the other components of power distribution bus160 removed. Leads 166 are individually numbered as leads 171 through176, with lead 171 being the topmost lead and lead 176 being thebottommost lead. Leads 171, 173, and 175 are configured to connect withoffset connectors 168 of power output assembly 12, while leads 172, 174and 176 are configured to connect with offset connectors 170 169. Eachof the leads is comprised of five sections, 181, 183, 185, 187 and 189,connected at four angles, 182, 184, 186 and 188. A connector section 181of each lead 171 through 176 is electrically attached to protectivedevice mount 162. An angle 182 then links connector segment 181 with ariser segment 183. An angle 184 in turn connects riser segment 183 witha twisted segment 185. An angle 186 connects twisted segment 185 with atransverse segment 187. An angle 188 connects transverse segment 187with output connector segment 189. Posts 190 are mounted on outputconnector segments 189 to the electrical and physical contact betweenleads 166 and offset connectors 168 and 170 169. Posts 192 are mountedon connector segment 181 to improve electrical and physical contactbetween leads 166 and protective device mount 162.

Referring now to FIGS. 33 through 35, output power assembly 12 is shownin greater detail, with leads 166 removed. Output power assembly 12includes an output housing 206 with an inner face 208 and an outer face210. Return terminals 200 and battery terminals 202 are in parallelcolumns on outer face 210 and located to different planes, 212 and 214,respectively, to provide separation and improved organization of batteryand return cables from telecommunications equipment receiving power frompanel 1.

As shown, output power assembly 12 is configured to supply power to sixsuch devices, having six pairs of battery terminals 202 and six pairs ofreturn terminals 200. Alternative configurations having more or fewerpairs of terminals can be used depending on size constraints and thenumber of devices requiring power. Output housing 206 is a uni-bodyhousing, so that the same housing includes provisions for both batteryand return terminals.

Terminals 200 and 202 are grouped in pairs to improve the quality andphysical surface area of contact between the cables to and from thedevices and the terminals, and to prevent rotation of the cablesattached to the terminals. Return terminals 200 are all linked to acommon return strap 204 which extends through output housing 206 fromouter face 210 beyond inner face 208. When output power assembly 12 ismounted to panel 1, return strap 204 is electrically connected to returnbus end 58.

Each pair of battery terminals 202 are connected to a conductor strap220 which extends through output housing 206 from outer face 210 beyondinner face 208 and includes an offset connector 168 or 170 169. Asdetailed above, offset connectors 168 and 170 169 are electricallyconnected with segments 189 of leads 166 when output power assembly 12is mounted to panel 1.

Flanges 216 and fastener openings 218 are provided on output housing 206to allow power output assembly 12 to be securely and removably fastenedto rear face 28 of panel 1, as shown in FIG. 1.

Having described preferred aspects and embodiments of the presentinvention, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts mayreadily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended thatsuch modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of theclaims which are appended hereto.

1. A power input housing for a power distribution panel comprising: abody defining a cavity having a first open end and a second open end,the body including a base, opposing sidewalls extending from the baseand a center wall extending from the base; a removable cover mounted tothe body; the cavity being defined by the sidewalls, the base and theremovable cover, and being divided longitudinally by the center wall,the center wall substantially parallel to the sidewalls, the sidewallsand base each having a first end adjacent and partially defining thefirst open end and each having a second end adjacent and partiallydefining the second open end; the base having access openings at thefirst and second ends of the cavity on both sides of the center wall topermit electrical conductors to pass through the base; the cover havinga major surface and a lower extension, the cover being mountable ineither a first position or a second position on the housing, such thatwhen the cover is mounted in the first position the lower extensioncloses off the first open end of the cavity and the second open end ofthe cavity remains open, and when the cover is mounted in the secondposition the lower extension of the cover closes off the second open endof the cavity and the first open end remains open; a mounting tabprojecting outward from the base including a fastener opening; and thebody and the cover being made of an electrically insulative material. 2.The power input housing of claim 1, wherein the cavity is an outercavity, and further comprising an inner cavity; the inner cavity definedby an extension of the sidewalls, with the base of the body positionedbetween the outer and inner cavities, wherein ends of the inner cavityclosed by a pair of opposing end walls, the end walls extending from thebase proximate the first and second open ends of the outer cavity; theaccess openings in the base of the body providing access to the innercavity.
 3. The power input housing of claim 2, wherein the mounting tabis a first mounting tab, and further comprising a second mounting tab,wherein the first and second mounting tabs project outward from thesidewalls.
 4. The power input housing of claim 2, wherein the mountingtab is a first mounting tab, and further comprising a second mountingtab, wherein the first and second mounting tabs project outward from theend walls.
 5. The power input housing of claim 2, wherein the cover hasfour sides, the lower extension positioned along one side, and furthercomprising a lip extending from the major surface along each of theother three sides.
 6. The power input housing of claim 5, wherein thelower extension includes first and second side lips.
 7. The power inputhousing of claim 2, wherein the major surface of the removable coverincludes a fastener hole.
 8. A power distribution panel comprising: apanel housing including a front and a rear; the front including circuitcontrol devices; the rear including a power input assembly and a poweroutput assembly; the power input assembly including first and secondparallel cavities each defining first and second open ends, and a coverincluding a major surface and a lower extension, the cover mountable inone of two selectable positions wherein in the first position the firstopen ends are closed and in the second position the second open ends areclosed.
 9. The power distribution panel of claim 8, wherein the powerinput assembly includes first and second outer walls, and an innercenter wall between the first and second outer walls, the first andsecond outer walls and the inner wall defining the first and secondparallel cavities.
 10. The power distribution panel of claim 9, whereinthe inner wall defines a first fastener opening, and the cover defines asecond fastener opening alignable with the first fastener opening ineither of two selectable positions of the cover.
 11. The powerdistribution panel of claim 9, wherein the cover has four sides, thelower extension positioned along one side, and further comprising a lipextending from the major surface along each of the other three sides.12. The power distribution panel of claim 11, wherein the lowerextension includes first and second side lips.
 13. The powerdistribution panel of claim 8, wherein the cover has four sides, thelower extension positioned along one side, and further comprising a lipextending from the major surface along each of the other three sides.14. The power distribution panel of claim 13, wherein the lowerextension includes first and second side lips.
 15. The powerdistribution panel of claim 8, wherein the power input assembly includesmounting tabs defining fastener holes for mounting the power inputassembly to the rear of the panel housing.
 16. A power input assemblycomprising: a housing including a cavity, the cavity defined by opposingsidewalls, a base and a removable cover, the cavity having a first openend and an opposite second open end; the cavity including alongitudinally extending power chamber and a longitudinally extendingreturn chamber; the power chamber having a conductor which passesthrough the base of the cavity and adapted for receiving a conductorfrom a power terminal of an electrical power source, and the returnchamber having a conductor which passes through the base of the cavityand adapted for receiving a conductor from a return terminal of theelectrical power source; the cover having a lower extension and beingmountable in either a first position or a second position on thehousing, such that when the cover is mounted in the first position thelower extension closes off the first open end of cavity and the secondopen end of the cavity remains open, and when the cover is mounted inthe second position the lower extension closes off the second open ofthe cavity and the first open end remains open.
 17. The power inputassembly of claim 16, further comprising wires from the electrical powersource, wherein the wires extend through one of the first and secondopen ends of the cavity and are attached to the conductors, and thecover is mounted in the second or the first position, respectively. 18.The power input assembly of claim 16, wherein the housing includes amounting tab projecting outward from the base.
 19. The power inputassembly of claim 16, wherein the housing includes two mounting tabs,with one mounting tab extending from the base proximate the first openend and one mounting tab extending from the base proximate the secondopen end.
 20. The power input assembly of claim 16, wherein the housingincludes two mounting tabs, with one mounting tab extending from thebase proximate each of the sidewalls.
 21. A method of attaching powercables to a power distribution device, the method comprising the stepsof: providing a power input assembly mounted to the power distributionpanel, the power input assembly including: a housing including a cavityhaving a first open end and a second open end on opposite sides of thehousing; the cavity defining a power chamber having a conductor whichpasses into the power distribution panel for connecting with a wire froma power terminal of an electrical power source, and a return chamberhaving a conductor which passes into the power distribution panel forconnecting with a wire from a return terminal of an electrical powersource; positioning power and return cables in the respective first andsecond open ends of the housing; attaching the power cable to theconductor in the power chamber; attaching the return cable to theconductor in the return chamber; and placing a cover on the housingwherein the cover has a lower extension to close off the other of thefirst and second open ends of the cavity.
 22. The method of claim 21,wherein the first and second open ends are oriented vertically.
 23. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the first and second open ends are orientedhorizontally.
 24. A power input housing for a power distribution panelcomprising: a body including a base and a center wall extending from thebase; and a removable cover mounted to the body, the cover including amajor surface and a lower extension, the cover and the body defining acavity divided longitudinally by the center wall; the base includingaccess openings on both sides of the center wall to permit electricalconductors to pass through the base; wherein the cover is mountable ineither a first position or a second position relative to the body suchthat when the cover is mounted in the first position, the lowerextension encloses a first end of the cavity while a second end of thecavity remains open, and such that when the cover is mounted in thesecond position, the lower extension of the cover encloses the secondend of the cavity while the first end remains open; wherein the body andthe cover are made of an electrically insulative material.
 25. The powerinput housing of claim 24, wherein the body includes opposing sidewallsextending from the base.
 26. The power input housing of claim 25,wherein the center wall is substantially parallel to the opposingsidewalls.
 27. The power input housing of claim 24, further including amounting tab projecting outward from the base, the mounting tabincluding a fastener opening.
 28. The power input housing of claim 27,wherein the major surface of the removable cover includes a fastenerhole.
 29. A power distribution panel comprising: a panel housing havinga front and a rear; circuit control devices located at the front of thepanel housing; and a power input assembly and a power output assemblylocated at the rear of the panel housing, the power input assemblyincluding a cover having a major surface and a lower extension, thepower input assembly defining first and second parallel cavities, thecover of the power input assembly being mountable in one of twoselectable positions; wherein in a first position of the two selectablepositions, first ends of the first and second parallel cavities areclosed, and in a second position of the two selectable positions, secondends of the first and second parallel cavities are closed.
 30. The powerdistribution panel of claim 29, wherein the power input assemblyincludes first and second outer walls, and an inner center wall betweenthe first and second outer walls, the first and second outer walls andthe inner center wall defining the first and second parallel cavities.31. The power distribution panel of claim 30, wherein the inner walldefines a first fastener opening, and the cover defines a secondfastener opening alignable with the first fastener opening in either oneof the two selectable positions of the cover.
 32. The power distributionpanel of claim 29, wherein the power input assembly includes mountingtabs defining fastener holes for mounting the power input assembly tothe rear of the panel housing.
 33. A power input assembly comprising: ahousing and a removable cover, the housing and cover defining a cavity,the cavity including a longitudinally extending power chamber and alongitudinally extending return chamber; a power conductor at leastpartially located within the power chamber, the power conductor beingadapted to interconnect to a power terminal of an electrical powersource; a return conductor at least partially located within the returnchamber, the return conductor being adapted to interconnect to a returnterminal of the electrical power source; wherein the removable coverincludes a lower extension, the cover being mountable in either a firstposition or a second position on the housing, such that when the coveris mounted in the first position, the lower extension closes off a firstend of the cavity while a second end of the cavity remains open, andsuch that when the cover is mounted in the second position, the lowerextension closes off the second end of the cavity while the first endremains open.
 34. The power input assembly of claim 33, wherein thepower conductor and the return conductor each pass through a base of thehousing.
 35. The power input assembly of claim 33, wherein the housingincludes a base and opposing sidewalls extending from the base, thecavity being defined by the base, the opposing sidewalls, and the cover.36. The power input assembly of claim 35, wherein the housing includes amounting tab projecting outward from the base.
 37. A power inputassembly comprising: a housing including a cavity, the cavity defined byopposing sidewalls, a base and a removable cover, the cavity having afirst open end and an opposite second open end; the cavity including alongitudinally extending power chamber and a longitudinally extendingreturn chamber; first and second power conductor posts located withinthe power chamber of the cavity, the power conductor posts being adaptedfor connection to a power terminal of an electrical power source, andfirst and second return conductor posts located within the returnchamber of the cavity, the return conductor posts being adapted forconnection to a return terminal of the electrical power source; thecover having a lower extension and being mountable in either a firstposition or a second position on the housing, such that when the coveris mounted in the first position the lower extension closes off thefirst open end of cavity and the second open end of the cavity remainsopen, and when the cover is mounted in the second position the lowerextension closes off the second open of the cavity and the first openend remains open.
 38. The power input assembly of claim 37, wherein theopposing sidewalls extend outward from the base.